Assembly for producing oil



Sept,Y 29, 1959 J. B. PAYNE 2,906,207

l ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCING OIL Filed May 25, 1955 /2 sheets-sheet 1 J. B. PAYNE ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCING OIL.

Sept. 29, 1.9759

Filed May 23. 1955 Un States ASSElVIBLY FOR PRODUCING OIL Application May 23, 1955, Serial No. '510,205

4 Claims. (Cl. 103-4) The present invention is directed to apparatus lfor producing oil. More particularly, the invention is directed to an assembly for producing petroleum hydrocarbons simultaneously from dual zones. In its more specific aspects, the invention is directed to an assembly for producing petroleum hydrocarbons simultaneously from dual Zones employing a plurality of gas lift valves.

The present invention may be briefly described as an assembly tor producing petroleum hydrocarbons from dual zones penetrated by a well bore having a casing arranged therein provided with perforations in said Zones with a tubing arranged in said casing with production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a rst zone being through the tubing and production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a second zone being through the tubing-casing annulus which comprises a mandrel adapted to be connected into said tubing having a plurality of gas lift valves carried by the mandrel. MeansV are connected to the gas lift valves Vfor injecting gas into the gas lift valves. The mandrel is provided with passageways for directing gas simultaneously into the tubing and into the tubing-casing annulus into lifting relationship with the petroleum hydrocarbons,

The gas lift valves are carried internally of the mandrel and may be either vertically or horizontally spaced apart.

The mandrel is connected into the tubing string and forms part thereof and arranged within the tubing string in the mandrel is a second tubing string which may have the lower end suitably closed by a removable plug member when seated.

The gas lift valves, yas described supra, may be arranged in and connected to the second tubing string or may be arranged in and connected to the interior of the mandrel. When the gas lift valves are arranged in and connected to the second tubing string, the gas lift valves are suitably arranged in vertically spaced apart relationship. When the gas lift valves are connected to the interior of the mandrel they are suitably arranged in horizontally spaced apart relationship.

The second tubing string is suitably provided with packing means which prevents flow between the rst and second tubing strings but which may allow ow through at least one of the gas lift valves and thence into the space between the tubing strings.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l shows an embodiment suitable for obtaining production simultaneously from a plurality of Zones in a well bore;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views of the apparatus of Fig. l, with Fig. 3 being a continuation of Fig. 2.`

Fig. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views showing another embodiment of the persent invention, with Fig. 5 being a continuation of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 11 designates a plurality of mandrels which `form part of and are connected to a tub- 2,906,207 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 ing string 12 which suitably extends to the earths surface. The tubing string 12 is arranged in a casing 13 which is cemented in a well bore 14 with a primary cement job 15. Perforations 16 are formed in the casing and cement, respectively, to open communication into a hydrocarbon productive zone 17 into the annulus 18 between the tubing 12 and casing 13.

A packer 19 isolates the Zone 17 from a lower zone 20 which is in communication with the lower open end 21 of tubing 12 through perforations 22. A conduit 23 controlled by valve 24 allows production to be removed lfrom the tubing 12 and a conduit 25 controlled by a valve 26 allows production to be removed `from the annulus 18. Gas is injected through line 27 into a small tubing 28 arranged in the tubing 12. The mandrels 11 are provided with gas lift valves `for injection of gas. The gas lift valves and the mandrels 11 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 which are sectional views of the upper and lower mandrels respectively in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts as in Fig. 1, each of the mandrels 11 carry a plurality of horizontally spaced apart gas lift valves 30 and `31 which are connected, respectively, to the mandrel 11 by mating -threads 32 and 33. The gas lift valves 30 communicate iluidly with the annulus 18 by way of a uid passageway 34 in the mandrel 11 and a conduit 35 which communicates with a fluid passageway 36, the latter of which exhausts into the annulus 18.

The gas lift valves 31 communicate with Ithe uid passageway 37 in the mandrel 11 and thence through por-ting arrangement 38 into the uid passageway 39 of the tubing 12.

rihe small pipe 28 passes through the mandrels 11 and extends substantially the length thereof and carries a plurality of packing members 40 provided with suitable packing such as sealing cups or opposed chevron packing 41 which serves to provide a seal beotween the small pipe 28 and the inner wall 42 of the mandrel 11.

Suitably the small pipe 28 may be formed in sections which are threadably connected by means of threaded connections 28a. The small pipe 28 is provided with a plurality of ports 43 by way of which lift gas` is introduced into the gas lift valves 30 and 31 by means of ports 44 and 45, respectively. The gas lift valves, in turn, communicate with the passageways 34 and Z9, respectively. The mandrels 11 are suitably connected to the tubing 12 by coupling members 48 by mating threads 49. It is to be noted that the coupling members 48 have the passageway 36 arranged therein.

Likewise, the gas lift valves are connected into a connection member 50 in the mandrel 11 in which the passageways 29 and 34, respectively, are arranged. This member 50 is connected into the mandrel 11 by mating threads 51 and 52.

Arranged within the mandrels 11 intermediate their lower ends is a suitable coupling member 53 which is threadedly connected to the pipe 28 by mating threads 54 which carries a sealing member comprised of op posed chevron packings 56 and 57 which serve to isolate the annulus 58 between the inner wall 42 of the mandrel 11 and the outer wall of the pipe 28.

The inner wall 42 of the upper mandrel 11 has a suitable guide member 59 which serves to maintain the wall 42 spaced away from the outer wall of the mandrel 11. The upper mandrel 11 is suitably connected to the tubing 12 on its lower end by coupling member 60 by mating threads 61 and 62.

The lower mandrel 11 is similarly constructed tothe upper mandrel 11 and is connected by its upper end into the tubing 12 by a connecting means 48 having a passageway 36 therein communicating with the annulus 18. The lower of the mandrels 11 is also provided with gas lift valves 30 and 31 communicating, respectively, with the annulus 18 by way of conduit 35 and passageway 36 and with the passageway 39 of the tubing 12 through passageway 29. Like the upper of the mandrels 11, a packing member 40 is provided on which is arranged packing 41.

The small pipe 28 has ports 43 therein by way of which gas is supplied to the gas lift valves 30 and 31 by way of ports 44 and 45, respectively. The inner wall 42 of the lower of the mandrels 11 has a guide means 59 on its lower end to maintain the wall 42 spaced from the outer wall of the mandrel 11. A coupling member 53 on the pipe 28 is provided with suitable packing such as sealing cups or opposed chevron packings 56 and 57.

The lower of the mandrels 11 has a suitable connecting member 60 which is connected to the pipe 12 by means of mating threads 61 and 62.

It is to be noted that the coupling 60 provides a seat 60a to receive a suitable seat engaging member 63 pivotally attached by` pins 64 to an annular member 65 which in turn, is connected to connecting member 53. Arranged in recesses 66 of the member 63 are a plurality of springs 67 which urge the member 63 outwardly.

Threadedly connected into the connecting member 53 by mating threads 68 is a pipe 69 which is closed on its lower end by a threaded plug 70 which serves to close off the small pipe 28.

The engaging member 63 is slidably connected by pins 71 to a guide member 72 connected to the pipe 69.

It is to be understood that pipe 69 may f orrn part of and be an extension of pipe 28 and that additional numbers of mandrels 11 may be connected into the tubing 12 as has been described, each of which will be provided with gas lift valves 30 and 31.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the casing 13 has a tubing 12 arranged therein similar to Figs. l and 2 and connected to the tubing 12 by means of mating threads 100 are a plurality of mandrels 111 having an outer wall 112 and an inner wall 113. The small tubing 28 eX- tends through the mandrels 111 and is provided with packing members 114 connected thereto by mating threads 115 and 116 which carry packing 118 which may be sealing cups or chevron packing which serves to seal and close annulus 172 between the small pipe 28 and the wall 113.

The small pipe 28 is provided with flow directing means, 119:1 and 119b having similar lateral passageways 120 therein to which is connected by mating threads 121 gas lift valves 122 and 122:1. Gas lift valve 122 communicates with the flow passageway 123 between the inner wall 113 and the outer wall 112 through a spring biased check valve member 124 connecting to the annular passageway 125 by way of port 126.

The gas lift valve 122 has ports 134 by way of which gas is injected into the gas lift valve from the interior of the pipe 2S.

The gas lift valve 122:1 is connected into flow directing means 119b which similarly is provided with a lateral passageway 120.

It is to be noted that the flow directing means 119:1 and 11911 are provided with longitudinal passageways 120:1 for directing gas below the several gas lift valves 122 and 122:1.

The gas lift valve 122:1 communicates by means of passageway 120 in llow directing means 119b by way of passageway 125 between the wall 113 and gas lift valves 122:1 with a conduit 14() through a conducting means 141 provided with a passageway 142 which communicates with the passageway 125, The conduit 140 connects by a coupling member 144 with a passage 145 in the mandrel 111 which, in turn, connects into a valve 146 which discharges into the annulus 18. The passageway 123 communicates through ports 147 with the passageway 172 which, in turn, communicates with the lower end of the tubing 12 extending to a lower production interval, such as shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the ow directing means 119:1 and 119b have connected thereto packing members 148 provided with suitable packing 149 which serves to seal between the gas lift valve assemblies 122 and 122a carried interiorly of the small pipe 28 and the inner wall 113 of the mandrel 111.

The gas lift valve 122:1 is provided with a port 151 by way of which gas is introduced into the gas lift valve 122:1.

The lowermost of the gas lift mandrels 111, as illustrated in Fig. 5, has a sleeve 154 arranged on its lower end below the packing member 148. Sleeve 154 has recesses 156 in which are arranged O-rings 157 to form a slidable seal with the member 153 and provides a slip joint which allows the ports 154:1 to be open in a running in position to allow passage of uid or for cleaning purposes. Connected to the member 153 is a plug member 158 to which is pinned by pins 159 an annular engaging means 160 which is urged outwardly by springs 161 arranged in recesses 162. Attached to the lower end of the plug 158 is a guide means 163 to which the engaging member is slidably connected by pins 164.

The lower end of the lowermost of the mandrels 111 is provided with a shoulder 171 to engage with the engaging means 160.

The device of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 operates in the following manner:

Gas is injected through the small pipe 28 through a pipe 27 connected to a source of a lifting gas, such as natural gas, not shown. The gas flows downwardly through pipe 28 and is caused to flow through ports 43, 44, and 45 into gas lift valves 30 and 31, respectively, and then ows into passageways 34 and 29. The gas from gas lift valve 30 flows by way of passageway 34 and conduit 35 into passageway 36 and thence into annulus 18 which is in communication with the upper zone 17 by way of perforations 16 which causes the hydrocarbon produced lfrom formation 17 to be lifted to the earths surface and to be produced through pipe 25 controlled by valve 26.

Production from the lower zone 20 is through the tubing 12, the open end of which is above the perforations 22.

Gas is injected into the gas vlift valve 31 through port 45 through passageway 29 into passageway 37 and thence through ports 38 into passageway 39 in the tubing 12 and thence to the earths surface and produced through conduit 23 controlled by valve 34.

It will be seen that a plurality of gas lift valves 30 and 31 have been provided with one gas lift valve of each pair of gas lift valves communicating with one zone and the other of the pair of gas lift valves communicating with another zone. With a gas lift valve being provided for each zone in spaced apart relationship, it is possible to life the hydrocarbons from each zone rapidly and efficiently.

The device of Figs. 1 and 2 is constructed in parts such that the device may be disassembled and/or disconnected to install the valves.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the gas lift valves are carried interiorly of the mandrel and connected thereto in horizontally, spaced apart relationship.

The device of Figs. 4 and 5 operates similarly to the device of Fig. 1. In this embodiment of the invention, the gas lift valves are carried by the small pipe 28 vertically spaced apart. One gas lift valve communicates and serves to lift production from one zone while another gas lift valve communicates with and serves to lift production from another zone. Specifically, in the ernbodiment of Fig. 4, injection gas which may be a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas, or may be an inert gas is introduced through small pipe 28 through port 134 in gas lift valve 122. Gas lift valve 122 is connected to passageway 120 in flow directing means 119a which forces the gas into passageway 125 and thence by way of port 126 into the inlet of the valve 124, the pressures exerted against the valve member 12.4 forcing it oi its seat and causing the gas to be introduced into the passageway 123 which communicates through ports 147 with the tubing 12 which, in turn, communicates with the lower Zone production 20, the gas introduced into the passageway 123 serving to lift the production to the surface for reoovery, such as has been described with respect to Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The gas passes down through the small pipe 28 through passageway 12ila in tlow directing means 11% and enters the valve 12211 through inlet port 151. The gas from valves 122er passes through lateral passageway 120 in flow directing means 11% and thence into the passageway 125 which is isolated from the upper portion of passageway 125 adjacent valve 122 by packing 149. This gas from valve 122a then passes through passageway 142 into conduit 140, thence into passageway 145 and by way of check valve 146 injected into annulus 18 which is in communication with zone 17 through perforations 16 and causes the production from zone 17 to be lifted to the earths surface and produced as has been described with respect to Fig. l.

The several gas lift valves 122 and 122a serve to lift the hydrocarbon from the two zones efficiently and rapidly.

It is desirable to employ two gas lift valves in multiples separated into what may be termed as an upper gas lift valve assembly and a lower gas lift valve assembly. For example, the upper gas lift valve assembly operates at a dierent pressure from the lower gas lift valve assembly. The lower gas lift valve assembly operates at a lower pressure than the pressure at which the upper gas lift valve assembly operates. The pressures employed for the two valves which comprise the upper and lower valve assemblies will vary according to the depth in the well in which the valve assemblies are located. For example, the upper valve assembly may be arranged in the well at a depth from about 1500 to about 2000 feet, whereas the lower gas lift valve assembly may be arranged at a depth in the well from about 2300 to 2800 feet. As exemplary only of the upper gas lift valve asembly arranged at 1700 feet, the two gas lift valve assemblies may be set to operate at about 650 pounds per square inch, whereas the lower gas lift valve assembly when arranged at a depth from about 2450 to 2500 feet may be set to operate at about 600 pounds per square inch. A suitable range of pressure, but not limited thereto, for the upper gas lift valve assembly may be from about 400 to about 1000 pounds per square inch, whereas a suitable range for the lower gas lift valve assembly, but not limited thereto, may range from about 300 to about 900 pounds per square inch. The gas lift valve assemblies are preferably not arranged below 2500 feet depth in the well but, as stated before, it is contemplated that the depth will not be limited to the specific ranges which are given by way of exemplication and illustration and not by way of limitation.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful. The devices of the present invention have performed eficiently and are a substantial advance in the art in the production of oil simultaneously from at least two zones vertically spaced apart.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent 1. An assembly for producing petroleum hydrocarbons from dual zones penetrated by a well bore comprising: a casing arranged in the well bore and lining the sides of the well bore and provided with perforations adjacent said zones, a iirst tubing string arranged in the casing to provide a tubing-casing annulus, a second tubing string within the rst tubing string and extending from the earths surface, said second tubing string being removable to permit it to be removed from the well bore to the earths surface, means connected to said second tubing string at the surface of the earth for injecting .gas into said second tubing string, at least one mandrel connected to the lirst tubing string, said mandrel including at least one inner tubular member forming a continuation of the first tubing string with at least one port formed therein and an outer tubular portion of greater diameter than said inner tubular member forming an annular space and having closed upper and lower ends, a conduit extending partially through the annulus in the mandrel, a passageway through one of the closed ends of the outer tubular portion of the mandrel to which said conduit is connected, upper packing means and a lower packing means mounted about the second tubing, said upper and lower packing means being sufficiently close to one another to permit the ow of petroleum hydrocarbons through the annular space in the mandrel and said port formed in the inner tubular member of the mandrel, means including a first gas lift valve mounted between said upper and lower packing means for directing injected gas out of the second tubing string, through the rst gas lift valve, through said conduit, and through said passageway and into the first tubing-casing annulus, means including a second gas lift valve mounted between said upper and lower packing means for directing gas from the second tubing into the annular space in the mandrel, and a pressure isolating packing arranged about the first tubing string at a point in the well bore between said dual zones whereby production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a rst zone is obtained at the earths surface from said rst tubing string and production of petroleum hydrocarbons from a second zone is obtained at the earths surface from the irst tubing-casing annulus.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which the irst and second gas lift valves are mounted Within the removable second tubing string and vertically spaced apart, a third packing means is arranged about the removable second tubing string and between the gas lift valves, a iirst passageway is provided in the second tubing leading from the first gas lift valve and out of the removable second tubing string so that injected gas is drected through the conduit, and a second passageway is provided in the second tubing string leading from the second gas` lift valve and out of the removable second tubing string so that injected `gas is directed through a port provided in the inner tubular member of the mandrel and into the annular space in the mandrel.

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which a gas lift valve housing is connected to the inner tubular member of the mandrel, the first and `second gas lift valves are mounted within said housing and horizontally spaced apart, a first passageway is provided in the housing leading from a irst gas lift valve to the conduit, a second passageway is provided in the housing leading from the second gas lift valve to the annular space in the mandrel, and ports are provided in the removable second tubing string adjacent to and between said first and second gas lift valves.

4. An assembly in accordance with claim l in which the second tubing string is provided adjacent its lower end with at least one port, a slidable sleeve member is arranged about said lower end of the second tubing string adjacent said port forming a slidable seal with the second tubing string, stop means are provided on the second tubing string above and below the port provided adjacent the lower end of the second tubing for limiting the movement of the slidable sleeve member along the second tubing, and a spring biased member is connected to the lower end of the slidable sleeve member for locating the second tubing string in the mandrel so that the slidable sleeve member can be positioned to expose the port to the pressure in the tirst tubing string as the second tubing string is run in the well with the slidable sleeve member being moved along the second tubing string to cut oif the port from said pressure in the rst tubing string when the second tubing string is operably positioned in the mandrel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,834 Moore Oct. 13, 1942 r fawn... 

